And thirst and flies and marches that would irk

A cast-iron soldier with asbestos feet."

Know, then, the thought was fathered by the wish

We oldsters feel, that you and everyone

Who through the heat and flies conspire to dish

The "Drang nach Osten" of the beastly Hun

Shall win their strenuous virtue's modest wage.

And if at Nishapur and Babylon

The cup runs dry, we'll fill it later on,

And here where Cherwell soothes the fretful don